Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(12 votes, average: 3.17 out of 5)

Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya built by regional king Mahanaga in the 3rd century BC — Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya was built by regional king Mahanaga in the 3rd century BC

In the city of Tissamaharama, there are four ancient stupas from the Anuradhapura Era that lie in a row. These stupas are:

Builder of Tissamaharamaya

The Tissamaharama Stupa is the most revered and largest stupa among those in the region. Historical records, specifically the Mahavamsa (the Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka), attribute its construction to King Kavantissa, who reigned over Ruhuna during the 1st century BCE.

There is also considerable evidence indicating that the original stupa was built in the 3rd century BCE by regional ruler King Mahanaga, the brother of King Devanampiyatissa, and that it was subsequently enlarged by King Kavantissa (Ranatunga, 1920).

The Story of Mahanaga

Mahanaga was the brother of King Devanampiyatissa (307-267 BCE). According to Mahavamsa, the Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, while Mahanaga was overseeing the construction of the Walas Wewa Reservoir (වලස් වැව), Queen Ramadatta, the wife of Devanampiyatissa, sent him a bowl of mangoes, with the topmost one poisoned. Her intention was to eliminate Mahanaga to secure the throne for her son after Devanampiyatissa. Tragically, Mahanaga’s nephew (Devanampiyatissa’s son), who was with him at the reservoir, ate the poisoned mango and died instantly. (Mahanama et al., 1912, p. 146)

Fearing retaliation, Mahanaga fled to the southern region of Ruhuna with his pregnant wife. There, he established a regional kingdom centered around the Magama area, which later developed into a major stronghold of Sinhalese civilization in southern Sri Lanka. During his reign, Mahanaga is credited with founding several Buddhist monasteries, including the Naga Maha Viharaya (Nagamahaviharaya), contributing significantly to the religious and cultural development of the region (Mahanama et al., 1912, p. 146).

Revovations of Tissamaharamaya

According to the chronicles, this stupa was enlarged by King Ilanaga Naga (38-44 CE), renovated by King Voharika Tissa (214-236 CE), and again renovated by King Vijayabahu (1070-1110 CE).

According to Parker (1909, p. 325), the stupa suffered extensive destruction during the invasion of the Indian chieftain Kalinga Maga, which took place between 1215 and 1236 CE. Following this devastation, the stupa was never fully restored.

The more recent restoration work of this stupa began in 1858 due to the efforts of Wepathaira Sumana Thera, who rediscovered Thissmaharama Vihara after making a pilgrimage to the area. He built a hut in the vicinity of the stupa and started living there to supervise the restoration works by himself. It took 16 years to complete the renovation work of the Garbhaya, the semi-spherical part of the stupa, which is 86 feet in height.

Wepathaira Sumana Thera was unable to complete the restoration of the Tissamaharama Stupa during his lifetime. Following his death in 1873, the responsibility for the renovation was taken over by Walpita Medhankara Thera. By 1895, Walpita Medhankara Thera had successfully completed the restoration of the hatharaskotuwa (the cubical structure atop the dome) and enshrined sacred relics within it. The pinnacle of the stupa was ceremoniously installed in 1900, and the full restoration was finally completed in 1915.

It is believed that a young samanera (novice monk) named Gauthama, who had fallen ill at the Seelapassa Pirivena, passed away and was subsequently conceived as Queen Viharamahadevi’s child at this very location. According to tradition, this reincarnation led to the birth of one of Sri Lanka’s most revered monarchs—King Dutugemunu. Many believe that Dutugemunu was born in this area.

Relics Enshrined within Tissamaharama Stupa

The nature of the relic enshrined within the Tissamaharama Stupa has long been a subject of scholarly debate and popular belief. According to widely held tradition, the frontal bone relic (lalāta dhātu -ලලාඨ ධාතු) of the Buddha was temporarily enshrined in this stupa before being transferred to the Seruwila Mangala Maha Chethiya. However, a more recent discovery—a pillar inscription found in Kirinda—suggests that the left tooth relic of the Buddha (vam yati haku daladāva – වම් යටි හකු දලදාව) may in fact be enshrined here.

Regardless of which relic is enshrined, the spiritual significance of the Tissamaharama Stupa remains profound. The site is believed to have been sanctified by the Buddha himself during his third visit to Sri Lanka, accompanied by 500 Arhats. As such, it holds the esteemed position of eighth among the Solosmasthana—the sixteen sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka that are hallowed by the Buddha’s visits.

Tissamaharama Stupa is the largest stupa in the southern region of the country, with a height of 156 feet and a circumference of 550 feet.

An ancient Buddha statue carved in rock on the Salapathala Maluwa at Tissamaharama Viharaya

A bell tower made using two ancient granite pillars at the Salapathala Maluwa at Tissamaharama Viharaya

A rice boat carved from rock at the Salapathala Maluwa at Tissamaharama Viharaya

A boat carved from rock at the Salapathala Maluwa at Tissamaharama Viharaya

Statue of a king (Mahhanaga?) at Salapathala Maluwa at Tissamaharama Viharaya

A Chatra Gala (Stone Pinnacle) of the ancient Tissamaharama Stupa now lying at the Statue of a king (Mahhanaga?) at Salapathala Maluwa

Another finely carved Buddha Statue at Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya.

References

Mahanama, Geiger, W., & Bode, M. H. (1912). The Mahavamsa or the Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger. For the Pali Text Society by Henry Frowde.
Ranatunga, P. D. (1920). The Largest Dageba at Tissamaharama. The Ceylon Antiquary and Literary Register, V (part III), 138–140.

Also See

Solosmasthana – The Sixteen Buddhist Sacred Sites Hollowed by Buddha

Map of Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Travel Directions to Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya

Route 01 from Colombo to Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya	Route 02 from Colombo to Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya
Though : Southern Expressway – Galle – Matara – Hambantota distance :270 km Travel time : 5 hours Driving directions: see on Google Maps	Through : Awissawella – Ratnapura – Udawalawe – Thanamalwila distance : 225 km Travel time : 4.5 hours Driving Directions : see on Google Maps.